Measuring method for maximum muscle strength

ABSTRACT

A measuring method for maximum muscle strength may be applied to a muscle training device and a user of the device. The muscle training device may include a control unit, an operation display unit, and a drag unit. The measuring method assists the user to measure their maximum strength on the muscle training device by themself, and this knowledge is helpful in designing and adjusting a muscle training schedule and to evaluate the resulting progress.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a measuring method. Particularly, thepresent invention relates to a maximum muscle strength measuring methodused on a muscle training device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Maximum muscle strength is the maximum tension that can be generated inone maximal contraction when overcoming an opposite force, where such anopposing force is termed herein a resistance to the muscle generatedtension. In practice, the maximum muscle strength is equal to the musclestrength of 1 RM (one-repeat maximum), which is the maximum forcegenerated in one contraction of a muscle or the maximum muscle strengthgenerated in one contraction of a group of muscles against the opposingpulling force due to some weight. Therefore, for practical purposes, theunit of measurement for 1 RM is kilograms of weight. For example, aperson may only push once in a chest press, and the resultant chestpress 1 RM of the person is 70 kg. In other words, his maximum musclestrength is 70 kg.

The 1 RM test can be helpful in the design of training schedules or inevaluating training progress. It may also help understand changes in thebalance between the person's agonist and antagonist muscles.

There are two conventional methods for evaluating 1 RM: estimation anddirect measurement. The estimation method is suitable for a person whois not yet familiar with the exercise procedures in their prescribed orchosen training regime, e.g. in weight training. The calculation of 1 RMinvolves multiplying the setup weight by the coefficient correspondingto the maximum count. As for the direct measurement method, the personfirst performs the exercise with 3 different weights to determine theattainable 1 RM resistance for that person. If the 1 RM resistance dueto the heaviest weight tested is overcome, the person gets a rest and isthen challenged with resistances increasing by a weight in the range 5lb to 10 lb. If the person fails to overcome a resistance, they also geta rest and are then challenged to resistances decreasing by a weightalso in the range of 5 lb to 10 lb. The procedure is repeated until the1 RM muscle strength is approached.

Although muscle training devices are commonly used today, 1 RM is stillacquired by manual calculation and may be provided by professionals suchas a gym personal fitness trainer. However, this may be inconvenient forpeople following a muscle training regime, for example, personaltraining clients.

Therefore, it would be useful to be able to evaluate one's own 1 RM ormaximum muscle strength by oneself without extra expert or professionalassistance, by simply using a muscle training device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For the aforementioned purpose, the present invention provides a maximummuscle strength measuring method, which is applicable to a muscletraining device, the device including a drag unit, an operation displayunit, and a control unit, the method comprising the steps of:

a. Selecting a muscle of the user or a motion to be measured, for whichmaximum muscle strength will be measured, through the operation displayunit;

b. Setting up a resistance value through the display unit and generatingone or more test resistance values based on different proportions of theresistance value;

c. Generating at least one drag force based on at least one testresistance value;

d. Overcoming at least one drag force by the user moving or steadilyholding the drag unit, and measuring a moving distance or a steadyoperation time of the drag unit for completing the motion by a positionsensor and the control unit;

e. Judging whether the moving distance or the steady operation time ofthe drag unit meets a condition for generating a muscle strength valueor not, wherein the condition for generating the muscle strength valueincludes the moving distance or the steady operation time of the dragunit;

f. Obtaining a maximum muscle strength coefficient based on anaccumulative number of times that the user meets the condition forgenerating the muscle strength value continuously in the step e, andcalculating the muscle strength value via dividing the resistance valueby the maximum muscle strength coefficient;

g. Generating a corresponding test drag force for the drag unit based onthe muscle strength value;

h. Lowering the muscle strength value by a lowering proportion if theuser is unable to overcome the test drag force and meet the conditionfor generating the muscle strength value, and returning to step g;

i. Raising the muscle strength value by a raising proportion andreturning back to step g if the user continuously overcomes the testdrag force to complete more than one time of a measurement of step e andmeets the condition for generating the muscle strength value;

j. Outputting the muscle strength value as the maximum muscle strengthif the user is able to overcome the test drag force and meet thecondition for generating the muscle strength value only once.

The condition for generating the muscle strength value may be adjustedto a certain proportion of the moving distance or the steady operationtime of the drag unit.

The condition for generating the muscle strength value based on themoving distance or the steady operation time may be set or inputtedthrough the operation display unit.

A start position and a final position or a start time and an end timefor the condition for generating the muscle strength value may beinputted through the operation display unit.

The condition for generating the muscle strength value may be set andinputted into the operation display unit by means of a sound or motionsensor.

Preferably, the moving distance or the steady operation time is theaverage of a number of moving distances or of steady operation times inwhich the user has overcome the drag force or the test drag force atleast once to move the drag unit as in step (d).

For the aforementioned purpose, the present invention also providesanother maximum muscle strength measuring method, which is applicable toa user and a muscle training device, the device including a drag unit,an operation display unit, and a control unit, the method comprising thesteps of:

a. Selecting a muscle of the user or a motion to be measured through theoperation display unit;

b. Setting up a resistance value through the operation display unit, andgenerating a test resistance value by the control unit, and generating atest drag force for the drag unit based on the test resistance value;

c. Overcoming the test drag force by the user moving or steadily holdingthe drag unit;

d. Judging by the control unit whether the moving distance or the steadyoperation time of the drag unit meets the condition for generating amuscle strength value of not, wherein the condition for generating themuscle strength value is based on the moving distance or the steadyoperation time of the drag unit, and determining the moving distance andthe steady operation time of the drag unit for completing themeasurement by a position sensor and the control unit;

e. Counting an accumulative number of times of completing themeasurement in the step d until a preset number of times is reached;

f. Obtaining a maximum muscle strength coefficient based on theaccumulative number of times, and calculating the maximum musclestrength by multiplying the resistance value by the maximum musclestrength coefficient.

The condition for generating the muscle strength value may be adjustedto a certain proportion of the moving distance or the steady operationtime of the drag unit.

The condition for generating the muscle strength value corresponding tothe moving distance or the steady operation time may be set or inputtedthrough the operation display unit.

A start position and a final position or a start time and an end timefor the moving distance or the steady operation time may be inputtedthrough the operation display unit.

The condition for generating the muscle strength value may be set andinputted into the operation display unit by means of a sound or motionsensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first flow chart showing an embodiment of the maximum musclestrength measuring method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram for an embodiment of the maximum musclestrength measuring method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a second flow chart applying to a muscle training device ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a first schematic diagram showing a muscle training device ofthe present invention

FIG. 5 is a second schematic diagram showing a muscle training device ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a third schematic diagram showing a muscle training device ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 is a third flow chart showing an embodiment of the maximum musclestrength measuring method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fourth flow chart showing an embodiment of the maximummuscle strength measuring method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The technical features, content, advantages and effects of the presentinvention will be presented hereinafter through embodiments accompaniedwith corresponding figures. The figures are only for the purpose ofillustration and example, and do not necessarily imply the actualdimensions or precise configuration of the possible implementations ofthe present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not beconsidered as limited by the dimensions or configuration shown in thefigures.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, which are a first flow chart showing anembodiment of the maximum muscle strength measuring method, a systemblock diagram for an embodiment of the maximum muscle strength measuringmethod, a second flow chart applying to a muscle training device, afirst, second and third schematic diagrams each showing a muscletraining device of the present invention. The maximum muscle strengthmeasuring method may be applied on a user 90 and a muscle trainingdevice 100 including a drag unit 10, an operation display unit 20, and acontrol unit 30.

The operation display unit 20 may receive a command inputted by the user90 and transfer the command to the control unit 30. The control unit 30may perform a calculation based on the command and control the pullingunit 10 to increase or to decrease its resistance. The control unit 30may also provide an output prompt message on the operation display unit20.

The operation display unit 20 may include a touch screen, a softwareprogram, a motion sensor or a sound sensor. The control unit 30 mayinclude a processor capable of performing calculations. The drag unit 10may include a drag assembly for muscle training. A position sensor 40may be included to detect the movement of the drag unit 10 and to recordits initial and final positions.

In embodiments of the present invention, the maximum muscle strengthmeasuring method and muscle training device 100 may respectively includeprocess steps and components that may be implemented using various typesof operating systems and/or computer programs, and the components mayinclude devices designed for a specific purpose, such as hardwireddevices, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), or the like. Furthermore, the components,that may include such computing devices, may include a centralprocessing unit, memory (e.g. ROM, PROM, EEPROM, flash memory, andothers), input devices (e.g. a touchscreen), and output devices (e.g. adisplay), and removal storage capability (e.g. a USB flash drive port).The memory and storage devices are computer-readable media that may beencoded with computer-executable instructions. Such implementations maybe used without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventiveconcepts disclosed herein.

The muscle training device 100 in this embodiment may be, but is notlimited to, a rowing muscle training device as shown in FIG. 5 or amulti-functional dual pulley training device shown in FIG. 4. A typicalrowing muscle training device can help build a user's latissimi dorsimuscles and can measure the maximum pulling strength of the muscles. Themulti-functional dual pulley training device provides for a user toperform the chest fly or chest press exercises and help build thepectoralis major muscles and can measure the muscles' maximum pushingstrength for the muscles. The multi-functional dual pulley trainingdevice can also help a user to perform the inverted fly or other pullingexercises for the back and may, therefore, be used to measure maximumpulling strength for the muscles used.

Muscle performance can be measured through these pushing and pullingexercises and knowing their muscle performance, enables the user 90 tounderstand and track their muscles' performance. The maximum musclestrength can be measured by the method and includes the following steps:

A step S11 of selecting a muscle to be measured of a user 90 and/orselecting a physical exercise through the operation display unit 20.

A step S12 of generating a test resistance value based on a resistancevalue by the control unit 30 and generating a test drag force, for thedrag unit 10 to exert or resist, based on the test resistance value,wherein the resistance value may be an arbitrary value inputted by theuser 90. The preferred resistance value is the maximum muscle strengthassumed by the user 90.

A step S13 of overcoming the drag force and completing three cycles ofthe exercise movement by the user 90, and calculating an average movingdistance based on the three cycles.

A step S14 of counting the number of continuous successful repetitions(reps), where a successful rep is a complete cycle of motion of theexercise, away from and back to a fixed starting point, that meets apredefined condition in order to be counted towards a muscle strengthvalue, wherein the condition includes an operation time less than apreset operation time of 5 seconds or an operation moving distancegreater than or equal to 80% of the average moving distance, wherein thepreset operation time or the operation moving distance is acquired oncompletion of the exercise movement, that is a cycle or rep of theexercise.

A step S15 of summing up the counted numbers of the exercise movementscompleted in steps S13 and S14 by the control unit 30.

From the fourth exercise movement, an exercise movement is counted onlyif the condition for generating a muscle strength value is satisfied,which means if the condition is not satisfied at the nth time, then thecounting number is n−1.

A step S16 of looking up a maximum muscle strength coefficient based onthe sum number of step S15 by the control unit 30. The correspondingmaximum muscle strength coefficients are listed in the table below. Forexample, the muscle training device 100 is used to evaluate uppermuscles such as the chest muscles or the arm muscles. If the user 90 hasa counting number of 8, the corresponding muscle strength coefficient is1.255.

1 RM maximum muscle strength coefficient Number of Squat or Bench orrepetitions leg press chest press completed coefficient coefficient 11.000 1.000 2 1.0475 1.035 3 1.13 1.08 4 1.1575 1.115 5 1.2 1.15 6 1.2421.18 7 1.284 1.22 8 1.326 1.255 9 1.368 1.29 10 1.41 1.325

A step S17 of setting the maximum muscle strength as the product of theresistance value and the maximum muscle strength coefficient by thecontrol unit 30. As in the example of step S16, if the initial musclestrength is 50 kg and the user 90 has a counting number of 8, themaximum muscle strength is 50 multiplied by 1.255. If the user 90 has acounting number of 1, the maximum muscle strength is 50 kg. In thisapproach, the present invention provides a method to estimate or measurethe maximum muscle strength of the user 90.

In an embodiment, step S17 may optionally include re-assigning theacquired maximum muscle strength to be the resistance value through theoperation display unit 20 and repeating step S12. For example, on theoperation display unit 20, the user 90 may set up a desired number ofrounds to be executed. If the number of rounds is 3, the sequence fromS12 to S17 will then be executed 3 times. The repetition can help tofind a better approximation to the user 90's maximum muscle strength.

In an alternative embodiment, the user 90 inputs a preset shift value 37associated with the drag unit 10 on the operation display unit 20 instep S13 to step S14. The preset shift value 37 is used to evaluate themoving distance of the drag unit 10. When the moving distance of dragunit 10 driven by muscles is longer than, equal to, or close to thepreset shift value 37, the control unit 30 considers the muscle exercisemovement to be completed.

In an alternative embodiment for step S13 to S14, a start position and afinal position of the drag unit 10 are set up through the operationdisplay unit 20 to define a preset shift value 37. When the movingdistance of drag unit 10 driven by muscles is longer than, equal to, orclose to the preset shift value 37, the control unit 30 considers themuscle test movement to be completed.

In an embodiment, the measuring method of the present invention mayfurther include automatically or manually increasing the resistancevalue when the counting number is greater than 10 and going back to stepS11. As explained above, the maximum muscle strength is the maximumamount of force that can be generated in one contraction by one singlemuscle. If the counting number is greater than 10, the resistance valueas the measured strength is considered easy for the user 90. Theresistance value, in this case, is not likely to be the real maximummuscle strength of the user 90. Therefore, in order to find the realmaximum muscle strength, the resistance value needs to be increased andthe measuring method of the present invention repeated.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are a second flow chart and firstschematic diagram showing an example of how the maximum muscle strengthmeasuring method of the present invention applies to the user 90 and themuscle training device 100. The muscle training device 100 includes thedrag unit 10, the operation display unit 20, and the control unit 30,all of which are equivalent to those detailed in the previousembodiments.

The measuring method of the present embodiment may include the followingsteps:

A step S21 of selecting a muscle of a user 90 to be measured or aphysical exercise through the operation display unit 20.

A step S22 of generating a first test resistance value, a second testresistance value, and a third test resistance value based on aresistance value. The resistance value may be the maximum musclestrength assumed by the user 90. The first test resistance value, thesecond test resistance value, and the third test resistance value mayrespectively be 50%, 70%, and 85% of the resistance value.

A step S23 of generating a first drag force and a second drag force, forthe drag unit 10 to exert or resist, based respectively on the firsttest resistance value and the second test resistance value.

A step S24 of overcoming the first drag force and the second drag forceand completing the exercise movement by the user 90, and completing theexercise movements twice and calculating the average moving distance,average rate, average time, etc. of the two movements.

A step S25 of generating a third drag force for the drag unit 10 basedon the third test resistance value and judging if an operation movingdistance or an operation time of the drag unit 10 meets the conditionfor generating a muscle strength value. The condition may includereaching a proportional value of the average moving distance orfinishing within the preset operation time. For example, the conditionfor generating a muscle strength value may be the operation movingdistance being greater than or equal to 80% of the average movingdistance or the operation time being less than or equal to the presetoperation time, which is 5 seconds in this case.

A step S26 of generating a muscle strength value if the condition issatisfied, wherein the muscle strength value is equal to the resistancevalue divided by a maximum muscle strength coefficient listed in thetable below. In this embodiment, if the user 90 is able to meet thecondition for generating the muscle strength value and complete theexercise movement three times, the maximum muscle strength coefficientcorresponding to 3 times (3 exercise cycles) is 93% as shown in thetable. Therefore, if the setup resistance value is 100 kg, the musclestrength value is equal to 100 divided by 0.93, which will be thestarting resistance value for step S27.

Repetitions % 1 RM 1 100 2 95 3 93 4 90 5 87 6 85 7 83 8 80 9 77 10 7511 70 12 67 15 65

A step S27 of generating a test drag force for the drag unit 10 by thecontrol unit 30 based on the muscle strength value.

A step 28 of lowering the muscle strength value by a certain percentageif the user 90 cannot overcome the test drag force and meet thecondition for generating the muscle strength value, and returning backto step S27.

A step S29 of raising the muscle strength value by a certain percentageif the user 90 continuously overcomes the test drag force, completes theexercise movements and meets the condition for generating the musclestrength value, and returning back to step S27.

A step S30 of outputting the muscle strength value as the maximum musclestrength if the user 90 is able to overcome the test drag force and meetthe muscle strength value generating condition only once.

In steps S28 and S29, if the muscle measured is of the upper body, thepercentage change (lower or higher) may be around 2.5% to 5%, and if themuscle is of the lower body, the percentage change (lower or higher) maybe around 5% to 10%.

In a preferred embodiment, the present measuring method may furtherinclude optionally setting the muscle strength value as the resistancevalue after step S30 and repeating the procedure from step S22 in orderto attain a more accurate value for the maximum muscle strength.

In another embodiment, step S26 may further include lowering theresistance value if the condition for generating the muscle strengthvalue is not satisfied and executing step S22, wherein the resistancevalue may be reduced by between 2 kg to 3 kg. In a preferred embodiment,the resistance value is reduced by 2.5 kg.

In another embodiment, in steps S24 and S25, a start position and afinal position of the drag unit 10 are set through the operation displayunit 20 to define a preset shift value 37. When the moving distance ofdrag unit 10 is greater than the preset shift value 37 or the drag unit10 is steadily held for a period of time, the control unit 30 considersthe muscle test movement to be completed.

When the drag unit 10 is moved further than the preset shift value 37,the muscle is in concentric contraction or eccentric contraction. Whenthe drag unit 10 is steadily held for a period of time, the muscle is inisometric contraction.

In an embodiment, in steps S24 and S25, the user 90 inputs a startposition and a final position for the drag unit 10 through the operationdisplay unit 20 to define the preset shift value 37. The preset shiftvalue 37 is used to evaluate the moving distance of the drag unit 10.When the moving distance of the drag unit 10 exceeds the preset shiftvalue 37, the control unit 30 considers the test of the first drag forceand the second drag force to be completed. When the third drag force isgenerated for the drag unit 10 based on the third test resistance value,the moving distance of the drag unit 10 is evaluated. If it reaches thepreset shift value 37, the condition for generating a muscle strengthvalue is satisfied.

In an embodiment, in addition to a touchscreen, sensors such as a soundor motion sensor may also be used to assist the user 90 in inputting thesettings through the operation display unit 20.

In an embodiment, the threshold for a successful rep corresponding tothe moving distance or the steady operation time is set or inputtedthrough the operation display unit 20.

Referring to FIG. 7, which is the third flow chart showing an embodimentof the maximum muscle strength measuring method of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, a position sensor 40 is used to determinethe moving distance of the drag unit 10 in a completed exercise movementor to determine the duration of the steady operation time. The methodincludes the steps of:

A step S201 of selecting a muscle of a user 90 to be measured or aphysical exercise through the operation display unit 20.

A step S202 of inputting a resistance value through the operationdisplay unit 20 to generate a test resistance value, and a test dragforce, for the drag unit 10 to exert or resist, based on the testresistance value.

A step S203 of overcoming the test drag force by the user 90 to move orhold the drag unit 10.

A step S204 of evaluating by the control unit 30 if the condition forgenerating the muscle strength value is satisfied based on thecompletion of the exercise movement by the user overcoming the test dragforce, wherein the threshold is the preset shift value 37 or the presetoperation time of the drag unit 10, and the moving distance or thesteady operation time of the completed exercise movement is generated bythe position sensor 40.

A step S205 of summing up the counting numbers of the exercise movementscompleted in steps S203 and S204 until the preset number of exercisemovements is reached.

A step S206 of obtaining the maximum muscle strength coefficient basedon the cumulative number and calculating the maximum muscle strength,which is the resistance value divided by the maximum muscle strengthcoefficient.

In an embodiment, the operation display unit 20 may prompt the user 90to input a start position and a final position of the drag unit 10 inorder to set a preset shift value 37. When the moving distance of thedrag unit 10 exceeds the preset shift value 37, the control unit 30considers the exercise movement to be completed. The setting of thepreset shift value 37 and the measurement of the maximum muscle strengthare shown in FIG. 8, which is the fourth flow chart showing anembodiment of the maximum muscle strength measuring method the presentinvention.

A step S301 of prompting for a start position on the operation displayunit 20.

A step S302 of moving the drag unit 10 to a first position by the user90.

A step S303 of timing the drag unit 10 held at the first position to seeif the duration exceeds a threshold value.

A step S304 of setting the first position as the start position if theduration exceeds the threshold value, or otherwise returning back tostep S301.

A step S305 of continuously moving the drag unit 10 to a secondposition.

A step S306 of timing the drag unit 10 held at the second position todetermine if the duration exceeds a threshold value.

A step S307 of setting the second position as the final position if theduration exceeds the threshold value, or returning back to S306.

A step S308 of recording the distance between the start position and thefinal position as a preset shift value 37 by the control unit 30.

A step S309 of inputting a resistance value on the operation displayunit 20 to generate a test resistance value, and generate a test dragforce, for the drag unit 10 to exert or resist, based on the testresistance value.

A step S310 of overcoming the test drag force to move the drag unit 10by the user 90.

A step S311 of evaluating by the control unit 30 if the condition forgenerating the muscle strength value is satisfied based on thecompletion of the exercise movement by the user overcoming the test dragforce, wherein the condition is the drag unit 10 reaching the finalposition and the completion of the exercise movement.

A step S312 of summing up the counting numbers of the exercise movementscompleted in steps S310 and S311 until the preset number of exercisemovements is reached.

A step S313 of obtaining the maximum muscle strength coefficient basedon the sum number and calculating the maximum muscle strength, which isthe resistance value divided by the maximum muscle strength coefficient.

In this embodiment, when the user 90 does not move the drag unit 10 tothe final position and complete the exercise movement, the user 90 mayoptionally execute step S310 and attempt to move the drag unit 10 againor step S313 to directly calculate the maximum muscle strength.

In step S312, the preset number of exercise movements may be set as 1.In this case, the maximum muscle strength of the user 90 is directlymeasured. Calculating the maximum muscle strength, by dividing theresistance value by the maximum muscle strength coefficient, is thenunnecessary.

In an embodiment, a start position and a final position or a start timeand an end time may be inputted through the operation display unit 20for the moving distance or the steady operation time of a successfulrep.

In step S309, sensors such as a sound or motion sensor may also be usedto assist the user 90 in inputting settings through the operationdisplay unit 20.

As explained above, when the counting number is greater than 10, themeasured strength corresponding to the resistance value is consideredeasy for the user 90. The resistance value, in this case, is not likelyto be the real maximum muscle strength. Therefore, the preset number ofexercise movements of less than 10 used in the present invention isreasonable to acquire a credible value for the maximum muscle strength.If the counting number 10 is easily reached, the resistance value is toolow for the user 90. In this case, go to step S309 and input a morereasonable resistance value.

The preset number of exercise movements can be manually set or mayalready be preset in the muscle training device 100 by default. If thepreset number of exercise movements is 10 and the user 90 is able tofinish the movement more than 10 times, the resistance value is then toolow for the user 90. In this case, the user 90 should choose a new valuein step S309. If the user 90 cannot finish the preset number of exercisemovements, step S313 may be followed to calculate the maximum musclestrength.

For further accuracy, the muscle strength value generating condition mayfurther include the moving distance of the drag unit 10 being greaterthan, equal to, or close to the preset shift value 37. In this case, thecontrol unit 30 considers the exercise movement to be completed onlywhen the user 90 moves the drag unit 10 from the start position to thefinal position.

In steps S301 to S308, the user 90 can set the start position and thefinal position of the drag unit 10 through the operation display unit 20to set the preset shift value 37. Therefore, when the moving distance ofthe drag unit 10 is greater than, equal to, or close to the preset shiftvalue 37, the control unit 30 considers the muscle test movement to becompleted.

In summary, at least one exercise movement is used to calculate theaverage moving distance. The maximum muscle strength of the user 90 isthen calculated (estimated) or directly measured by following steps S11to S17. In another embodiment described by steps S21 to S30, differenttest resistance values are given based on different proportions of theassumed maximum muscle strength, and the resistance can be adjustedbased on the performance of the user 90. In steps S11 to S17 and stepsS21 to S30, the user 90 is given a chance to warm up before taking themaximum muscle strength test. This avoids or reduces the possibility ofmuscle injury for the user 90.

In steps S201 to S206 and steps S301 to S313, the moving distance ismeasured to ensure that the user 90 finishes the exercise completely,and therefore ensure an accurate strength measurement. For bodybuildingexercises, it is important to finish every movement completely, becausethis affects the performance in real contests. For example, completionof exercises such as bench press, deadlift, and squat is dependent oncompletion of the exercise movements. For example, for the squatexercise, the hips have to reach a point lower than the knee, so thatthe lifter bends his knees and drops into a squatting position with thehip crease (where the top of the leg meets the hip) below the top of theknee. Because everyone has their own distinct body and jointflexibility, it is necessary to record the full exercise movements forfurther tests, so that progress can be evaluated. The recording of theexercise movements and the evaluation of progress is important to buildup performance, especially for bodybuilding, weight lifting, and otherphysical exercises.

While several preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein with reference to the figures, it is to be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention, which is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A maximum muscle strength measuring method, whichis applicable to a user and a muscle training device, the muscletraining device including a drag unit, an operation display unit, and acontrol unit, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a muscle ofthe user or a motion to be measured through the operation display unit;setting up a resistance value through the display unit and generating atleast one test resistance value based on different proportions of theresistance value; generating at least one drag force based on the atleast one test resistance value; overcoming the at least one drag forceby the user moving or steadily holding the drag unit, and measuring amoving distance or a steady operation time of the drag unit forcompleting the motion by a position sensor and the control unit; judgingwhether the moving distance or the steady operation time of the dragunit meets a condition for generating a muscle strength value or not,wherein the condition for generating the muscle strength value includesthe moving distance or the steady operation time of the drag unit;obtaining a maximum muscle strength coefficient based on an accumulativenumber of times that the user meets the condition for generating themuscle strength value continuously in the step e, and calculating themuscle strength value via dividing the resistance value by the maximummuscle strength coefficient; generating a test drag force, for the dragunit to exert or resist, based on the muscle strength value; loweringthe muscle strength value by a lowering proportion when the user isunable to overcome the test drag force and meet the condition forgenerating the muscle strength value, and returning back to the step g;raising the muscle strength value by a raising proportion and returningback to the step g when the user continuously overcomes the test dragforce to complete more than one time of the measurement and meets thecondition for generating the muscle strength value; and outputting themuscle strength value as the maximum muscle strength when the user isable to overcome the test drag force and meet the condition forgenerating the muscle strength value only once.
 2. The measuring methodof claim 1, wherein the condition for generating the muscle strengthvalue may be adjusted to a certain proportion of the moving distance orthe steady operation time.
 3. The measuring method of claim 1, whereinthe condition for generating the muscle strength value based on themoving distance or the steady operation time is set or inputted throughthe operation display unit.
 4. The measuring method of claim 1, whereina start position and a final position or a start time and an end timefor the condition for generating the muscle strength value are set orinputted through the operation display unit.
 5. The measuring method ofclaim 1, wherein the condition for generating the muscle strength valueis set and inputted into the operation display unit by means of a soundor motion sensor.
 6. The measuring method of claim 1, wherein the movingdistance or the steady operation time is an average moving distance oran average steady operation time where the user has overcome the dragforce or the test drag force at least once to move the drag unit as inthe step d.
 7. A maximum muscle strength measuring method, which isapplicable to a user and a muscle training device, the muscle trainingdevice including a drag unit, an operation display unit, and a controlunit, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a muscle of the useror a motion to be measured through the operation display unit; settingup a resistance value through the operation display unit, and generatinga test resistance value by the control unit, and generating a test dragforce, for the drag unit to exert or resist, based on the testresistance value; overcoming the test drag force by the user moving orsteadily holding the drag unit; judging whether a moving distance or asteady operation time of the drag unit meets the condition forgenerating a muscle strength value or not, wherein the condition forgenerating the muscle strength value is based on the moving distance orthe steady operation time of the drag unit, and determining the movingdistance and the steady operation time of the drag unit for completing ameasurement by a position sensor and the control unit; counting anaccumulative number of times of completing the measurement in the step duntil a preset number of times is reached; and obtaining a maximummuscle strength coefficient based on the accumulative number of times,and calculating the maximum muscle strength by multiplying theresistance value by the maximum muscle strength coefficient.
 8. Themeasuring method of claim 7, wherein the condition for generating themuscle strength value is adjusted to a certain proportion of the movingdistance or the steadily operation time of the drag unit.
 9. Themeasuring method of claim 7, wherein the condition for generating themuscle strength value based on the moving distance or the steadyoperation time are set or inputted through the operation display unit,and a start position and a final position or a start time and an endtime of the moving distance or the steady operation time are set orinputted through the operation display unit.
 10. The measuring method ofclaim 7, wherein the condition for generating the muscle strength valueis set and inputted into the operation display unit by means of a soundor motion sensor.